Identity crisis takes Brown and Darling to Rock bottom
James Forsyth 8:37pm
A new poll has devastating numbers in it for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. Public confidence in their ability to handle economic problems has collapsed faster than Northern Rock stock and is down 33% since September. Only 28% of the public now have faith in their handling of the issue, The Times finds.
Considering emails are now coming out showing that senior managers did indeed sign off on the way that the now missing data was transferred from HMRC to the National Audit Office things can only get worse for Brown and Darling, at least in the short term. The news that the NAO had expressed concern over the mode of delivery before the disks were sent just exacerbates the crisis from a Treasury perspective.
The question is: can the Tories capitalise? They are on 41% in this current poll which is OK but if they want to win an outright majority, and considering Labour’s dire predicament, they need to build a commanding lead now. They might never get a better opportunity. Every point the Tories put on now, reduces the probability of a Brown comeback at some point before the next election.
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Comments
egor1
November 23rd, 2007 1:14amI am amazed that the pollsters managed to find anybody who currently supports labour after the incompetence that is repeated day after day by this government. I would love to ask them why?
Paul
November 23rd, 2007 8:43amAgree with your final paragraph. Shame Cameron didn`t quite skewer Brown at PMQs on Wednesday, although I thought Brown was becoming tetchy. Next week, Cameron should release the full broadside, with Northern Rock,Child Benefit Records and now the Defence issue. Time to hit him with the full claymore and perhaps we may see his own troops starting to turn against. Go to it boy!!!
Lee Jakeman
November 23rd, 2007 8:55amFraser mentioned elsewhere that BOTH the Tories and Labour were using the LANGUAGE OF THE LEFT to sell their policies. I think this is the key to a Tory victory. I DON'T mean that the Tories should mimic Labour - far from it. What I mean is that the Tories now have a POPULIST agenda. Why should only the RICH have a decent education? Why should only the MIDDLE CLASS enjoy crime-free neighbourhoods? Why should Britain's BLACK workers lose their jobs to WHITE immigrants from Eastern Europe? Knowingly or unknowingly, the Tories have become the PARTY OF PROTEST for literally millions of ordinary people. They should replay this theme for all it's worth. In this way they will be able to OUT-LABOUR Labour, yet still remain true to Tory policies!
mat
November 23rd, 2007 9:50amegor1 about 40% of the country are paid to vote labour. Short of ordering the slaughter of the firstborn labour's poll figures will never fall below 30%.
Scary
November 23rd, 2007 12:01pmThe Tories should not be trying to capitalise as it will be counter-productive. They should let Labour twist in the wind and then during a relative calm come out with quiet and constructive proposals on other subjects. This is a marathon not a race and next week's poll figures will matter much less than next year's.
Scary
November 23rd, 2007 12:02pmIncidentally, why do you ask for people's email addresses before you allow them to comment? What do you do with this information and is it secure?
Graeme Archer
November 23rd, 2007 12:04pmI think that the polling collapse for Labour is larger than even that which Fraser posts. I think they have fallen by 33 *points* - which is >50% decrease.
Paul
November 23rd, 2007 5:53pmLee Jakeman above has it right, the Tories have to appeal to the working class with populist policies. That is what how Thatcher won 3 elections, with policies that were popular to Sierra Man & Basildon woman.Cameron has to appeal to White van man & family.To all hard working people. The Tories need to be the party of decent hard working people, with Labour as the party of the protected paternalistic modern day public sector Aristocracy. Quango addicts &pimps, living high,off the fat of the land.The modern day pit owners, because truly, thats what Brown & comrades are.